Students shivered as the wind chill got the best of them after taking the Polar Plunge on Nov. 24 to raise money for St. Jude.
The Polar Plunge, hosted by The University of Memphis Up ‘til Dawn team, sat an Up ‘til Dawn member high up in a dunk tank, while the students below tried to throw a ball at the button that would push them into the freezing water.
“It’s a fun event raising awareness,” Jalen Griggs said. “It’s a good time to de-stress right around Thanksgiving time and just have fun.”
The Polar Plunge had no set goal they wanted to reach; they just focused on doing it for the kids of St. Jude. The event aimed to raise as much money as they can while plunging their Up ‘til Dawn members into the chilly water.
“I’m taking the plunge for the kids,” Griggs said.
Thought up by the Up ‘til Dawn morale captains, this was the first year that the Polar Plunge took place. This year, the 54 morale captains had to come up with events to raise money during the year. The Polar Plunge was one of the ones chosen, and SGA helped make it possible by donating the dunk tank.
Melissa Byrd also took the plunge, and was nervous to face the cold water below.
“I would be all for this if I wasn’t the one getting dunked,” Byrd said. “I don’t really want to take the plunge, but I will for the kids. We had originally planned for 20 degree weather but we changed [the date].”
Even though the day was cold, the Up ‘til Dawn members were not, by sharing their cheerful spirits with students. They just put on brave faces and took the plunge.
